Anti-backlash device for knitting machines



July 30, 1963' R. SCHUSTACK ANTI-BACKLASH DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 12. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ROBERT SCHUSTACK July 30, 1963 R. SCHUSTACK ANTI-BACKLASH DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 12, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT SCH USTACK 5 A TTOP/VF) United states 3,099,418 ANTI-BACKLASH DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Robert Schustack, 29 W. 30th St., New York, N.Y. Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 172,439 9 Claims. (Cl. 242-1293) This invention relates generally to means for preventing the backlashing, slipping, loosening and tangling of stretch or elastic yarn as the yarn is taken off of a spool and passes to a knitting, winding, twisting or web forming machine.

In the usual knitting machine, there is provided a support for a spool of yarn. It is necessary in such a machine to provide some means for preventing the yarn from backlashing and slipping oif of the spool, thus preventing the yarn from loosening and tangling.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus in the form of a wire frame hinged to a disk and leaning against a conical-shaped spool of yarn to prevent the yarn from backlashing, slipping, loosening and tangling. The frame automatically changes its angular position against the spool as the yarn is withdrawn.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to prevent backlashing, slipping, loosening and tangling of the yarn as it is being withdrawn from the spool.

Another object is to provide an anti-backlash apparatus for retarding a spool of yarn from free rotation, including a disk support for the spool, a wire frame hinged to the disk and unbalanced to lean of its own weight on the spool, and a cylindrical weight and friction member slidably and adjustably positionable on the frame.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device embodying the invention, shown applied to a spool of yarn, the spool being shown in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device, the spool being shown in full lines.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the device taken on line 33 of FIG. 2, showing the device mounted on a supporting post.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the device taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale showing the slidable friction member, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 5 of a modified formof slidable friction member.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in FIG. 1 antibacklashing apparatus is shown and indicated generally by the reference numeral 11 The apparatus comprises a flat circular disk or plate 11 having a series of spaced aligned holes 12 adapted to selectively receive the stem 14 of a spindle 15. Spindle 15 supports a spool 16 around which is conically wound a body 20 of elastic yarn. A rectangular-shaped lug 22 extends from the periphery 11 of the disk .11 and has its outer free end curled forming a tube 24.

A wire frame 38 constituting a drag member is hingedly mounted on the periphery of the disk 11 adjacent its lug 22 projecting upwardly from the disk. The frame is formed of a single length of heavy gauge pliable round wire, and consists of an elongated upstanding straight rod or body portion 32 as viewed in FIG. 1. The body portion is bent laterally and outwardly away from the spool 20 as viewed in FIG. 1 forming a top rod portion 34 disposed in the plane of the body portion 32. Rod portion 34 terminates in a downwardly depending rod portion 36 disposed at an acute angle to the rod portion 34 and disposed in the same plane as the body portion 32. The body portion 32 and portions 34 and 36 define a substantially inverted U-shaped frame stnucture. The frame structure 36 is also reversely bent at its bottom end at five successive spaced points indicated at 40-44 in the plane of the body portion 32 and portions 34 and 36 to define a rectangular-shaped coil portion having angularly related straight portions 46, 47, 48- and 49. Portion 46 is substantially parallel to rod portion 34. Portion 47 is substantially parallel to body portion 32, and portions 48 and 49 are substantially parallel to each other and to rod portion 34.

The straight portion '49 of the bottom coil portion terminates in 'a leg 51 disposed perpendicularly to the straight portions 46, 48 and 49, and extending through the tubular edge '24 of tab 22. The free extreme end of leg 51 is bent as indicated at 50 to prevent displacement of the leg in the tubular edge 24-. The frame structure 30 is thus hinged to the disk all and can be moved in the plane of the coil toward and away from the spool or cone 20, the frame normally tilting toward the spool or cone with its corner or bend "40 seating on the top of the disk, its straight portion 49 engaging the edge 11' of the disk and its body portion 32 contacting the spool or cone 20' at the top thereof at the point P with a slight pressure.

In operation of the apparatus, the disk 11 is mounted on a post 52 carried by a stationary support 53, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with one of the holes 12 placed over the post. The stem 14 of the spindle :15 is plugged through the hole into the socketed post 5 2 and the spool 16 with its yarn placed on the spindle. in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the spindle is shown mounted in the innermost hole 12. The wire frame 30 is mounted so that its body portion 32 engages the top of the body 20 of yarn at the point P pressing very slightly against the yarn so that it does not prevent the yarn from coming off of the cone vertically. This pressure adjustment may be taken care of by the rod portion 36. If rod portion 36 is bent in wardly as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, the pressure is increased and if bent outwardly is decreased.

When the machine stops, the yarn or thread, because of its inherent tendency to twist, continues to unwind off of the conical body. However, due to the pressure of the body portion 32 at the point P, the pressure at such point has no horizontal leeway, that is, the body portion 32 can only move toward and away from the cone and cannot move sidewise. Accordingly, the yarn is prevented by the slight pressure of the body portion 32 at the point P from twisting off of the cone, thus preventing backlashing, slipping, loosening and tangling of the yarn.

The holes 12 are provided in spaced relation across the disk to accommodate cones of varying diameters so that the frame body 3 2 will always engage the cone at the same angle. some slight pressure is continually applied at the point P by the frame body portion 32 because the coil or hinge construction at the bottom of the frame 30 causes the body portion 32 to move into contact with the yarn on the cone automatically as the yarn is withdrawn.

When the spools of yarn are mounted on machines that carry the spools around bodily, centrifugal force is liable to swing the wire frame 30 away from the spool against which it is pressing. Upon such machines, the position of the frame 30 can be adjusted in order to offset the centrifugal force. This is possible because the disk a 11 rotates on the post 52. By merely rotating the disk 11 upon Which the frame 3% is mounted, the frame 34 may be positioned on the outside of the cone as positioned on the machine, i.e. on the outer edge of the circle of rotation of the machine, or the cone can be positioned on the inner edge of the cone, i.e. on the inner edge of the circle of rotation of the machine. When the frame 30 is on the outside of the cone, when the machine is rotating, centrifugal force will move the frame 34 away from the cone. When the frame 30 is on the inside of the cone, centrifugal force will move the frame against the cone.

T he invention also contemplates the use of a weight in the form of a cylindrical roller 60' as shown in FIG. 4. The roller 60 is slidably mounted on the body portion 32 of the frame 30, the roller also being rotatable frictionally. This roller, which may be made of rubber, as indicated in FIG. 5, will serve as a Weight to further unbalance the member 30 and increase the anti-backlash or free rotation retarding effect on the spool of yarn.

If rotation of member 60 is not desired, it is possible to provide a ridge 62 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 which will extend radially outward from and extend longitudinab ly along the body portion 32". Member 60* will have a longitudinal groove '61 in which the ridge 62 is engaged. This will prevent rotation of the member 60 without preventing it from being longitudinally slidable and adjustable on body portion 32 This non-rotational mounting of member 60 will increase the friction or drag on the spool body 20 and prevent it from rotating except when yarn is being drawn off from the spool.

The body portion 32 makes only a one point contact with the spool body 20' so that it does not entangle the yarn or prevent rotation of the spool body while yarn is being drawn off. The members 60 and 60 can be positioned so that they alone contact the spool body or they can be positioned to contact the spool body along with the rod as indicated in FIG. 4. Alternatively they can be moved down to be clear of the spool body while only body portion 32 makes contact with the body of yarn.

The apparatus is simple in structure and can be manu. factured economically.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters patent 1s:

1., A rotation retarding device for a spool of yarn, comprising a flat plate having a hole to receive a spindle therein, said spindle being adapted to rotatably support a body of elastic yarn, said plate having an extension formed at the edge thereof, a Wire frame having one end bent into inverted generally rectangular U-shape in a vertical plane, said wire frame having the other end bent to form a coil with a leg extending in a horizontal plane, said extension of the plate being rolled to form a tube, said leg being inserted through the tube so that the wire frame is pivotally supported over the plate in an unbalanced position, whereby the frame contacts said body when the body of yarn is mounted on said spindle.

2,. A rotation retarding device for a spool of yarn, comprising a flat plate having a hole to receive a spindle therein, said spindle being adapted to rotatably support a body of elastic yarn, said plate having an extension formed at the edge thereof, and a friction member pivotally mounted on said plate, said friction member including a wire frame having one end bent into inverted generally rectangular U-shape in a vertical plane, said frame having the other end bent at four points to form a generally rectangular coil with four straight sections, said frame having a leg bent outwardly at a fifth point from the innermost one of the straight sections of said coil, said extension of the plate being rolled to form a tube, said leg being inserted in and through the tube and being bent at its end to lock the leg in the tube, whereby the friction member is supported in an unbalanced position over the plate.

3. In combination with a supporting post, a spool support rotatably mounted on said post, said support including a circular disk having a hole receiving said post, a conical-shaped spool of yarn mounted on said disk over said post, and a wire frame hingedly mounted on the peripheral edge of the disk, said frame having an elongated body portion engaging the top edge of the spool of yarn, said hinged mounting including a reverse bend at the bottom of the body portion constituting a coil, a free end of the coil pivotally secured to the periphery of the disk.

4. In combination with a supporting post, a spool support rotatably mounted on said post, said support in cluding a circular disk having a hole receiving said post, a conical-shaped spool of yarn mounted on said disk over said post, and a wire frame hingedly mounted on the peripheral edge of the disk, said frame having an elon gated body portion engaging the top edge of the spool of yarn, said hinged mounting including a reverse bend at the bottom of the body portion constituting a coil, a free end of the coil pivotally secured to the periphery of the disk, the other top end of the body portion having a portion extending perpendicularly thereto, said perpendicular portion terminating in a portion extending at right angles thereto.

5. In combination with a supporting post, a spool support rotatably mounted on said post, said support including a circular disk having a series of aligned holes extending from the center thereof for selectively receiving said post, a conical-shaped spool of yarn mounted on said disk over said post, a rectangular-shaped lug extending from the periphery of said disk, said lug having a curled free end, and a wire frame hingedly mounted on said lug, said frame having an elongated body portion engaging the top edge of the spool of yarn, said hinged mounting including a reverse bend at the bottom of the body portion constituting a coil, the free end of the coil pivotally secured in the curled free end of the lug, the other top end of the body portion having a portion extending perpendicularly thereto, said perpendicular portion terminating in a portion extending at right angles thereto for adjusting the pressure of the body portion against the spool of yarn.

6. A rotation retarding device for a spool of yarn, comprising a base member adapted to support the spool for free rotation thereon, a drag member hinged to the support and disposed in an unbalanced position to lean on the spool and frictionally engage the spool while the yarn is being drawn off the spool, said drag member being formed from a single length of wire with a body portion having a length longer than the axial length of the spool, said body portion having a bent end engaged in a hinge element formed on said base member, and a cylindrical friction element slidably mounted on said body portion.

7. A rotation retarding device for a spool of yarn, comprising a flat plate having a hole to receive a spindle therein, said spindle being adapted to rotatably support a body of elastic yarn, said plate having an extension formed at the edge thereof, a wire frame having one end bent into inverted generally rectangular U-shape in a vertical plane, said wire frame having the other end bent to form a coil with a leg extending in a horizontal plane, said extension of the plate being rolled to form a tube, said leg being inserted through the tube so that the wire frame is pivotally supported over the plate in an unbalanced position, whereby the frame contacts said body when the body of yarn is mounted on said spindle, and a cylindrical friction member slidably mounted on said frame.

8. A rotation retarding device for a spool of yarn, comprising a fiat plate having a hole to receive a spindle .5 therein, said spindle being adapted to rotatably support a body of elastic yarn, said plate having an extension formed at the edge thereof, a wire frame having one end bent into inverted generally rectangular U-shape in a vertical plane, said wire frame having the other end bent to form a leg extending in a horizontal plane, said extension of the plate being rolled to form a tube, said leg being inserted through the tube so that the wire frame is pivotally supported over the plate in :an unbalanced position, whereby the frame contacts said body when the body of yarn is mounted on said spindle, said frame having a ridge formed thereon, and a cylindrical friction member slidably mounted on the frame, said friction member having a longitudinal groove receiving said ridge so that the friction member is slidable and non-rotatable on said frame.

9. A rotation retarding device for a spool of yarn, comprising a flat plate having a hole to receive a spindle therein, said spindle being adapted to rotatably support a body of elastic yarn, said plate having an extension formed at the edge thereof, and a friction member pivotally mounted on said plate, said friction member including a Wire frame having one end bent into inverted generally rectangular U-shape in a vertical plane, said frame having the other end bent at four points to form a generally rectangular coil with four straight sections, said frame having a leg bent outwardly at a fifth point from the innermost one of the straight sections of said coil, said extension of the plate being rolled to form a tube, said leg being inserted in and through the tube and being bent at its end to lock the leg in the tube, whereby the friction member is supported in an unbalanced position over the plate, and a cylindrical friction element slidably mounted on the frame for adjusting friction contact between said friction member and said spool of yarn to adjustably retard free rotation thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 945,188 Nichols Jan. 4, 1910 997,152 OOonnell July 4, 1911 1,034,832 Plaatje Aug. 6, 1912 2,366,101 Grothey Dec. 26, 1944 3,018,604 Lenk Jan. 30, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 275,043 Great Britain Aug. 4, 1927 

3. IN COMBINATION WITH A SUPPORTING POST, A SPOOL SUPPORT ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID POST, SAID SUPPORT INCLUDING A CIRCULAR DISK HAVING A HOLE RECEIVING SAID POST, A CONICAL-SHAPED SPOOL OF YARN MOUNTED ON SAID DISK OVER SAID POST, AND A WIRE FRAME HINGEDLY MOUNTED ON THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE DISK, SAID FRAME HAVING AN ELONGATED BODY PORTION ENGAGING THE TOP EDGE OF THE SPOOL OF YARN, SAID HINGED MOUNTING INCLUDING A REVERSE BEND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BODY PORTION CONSTITUTING A COIL, A FREE END OF THE COIL PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE DISK. 